Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-29

The subject Tor discussion by the
members of Newark Grange, No. 5,
at its last meeting was 1.-THE law and
mode of taxing property in Delaware
for State aad local purposes" The
members were unanimous that the
present system of taxing property In
this State is abominable, unjust, un.
equal and very distressing TO the agri.
culturalist, as well as to the laboring
class.
First, ! will take the taxes for
schools: A house worth $1,000 is
taxed at its yearly rental, after deduct.
ing the insurance and repairs. The
ratable value will then be about 500,
more or less, according to the location.
The lab0ring man or mechanic who
hires this house is assessed at from
5000 to $400, according to his ability
to earn money to support himself and
family and pay his rent. There Ia one
citizen owning 1000 worth of prop.
crty to be protected by the State as.
sessed at 500, when another with no
property. only his labor to support
himself, is assessed from 5000 TO $400.
Is this just?
Now, If the said laborer or me-
chanic should purchase the 81 900
house he lives in, which is very de-
silable, as every man and woman love
to own the home they live in, and
should by frugal, industrious habits,
have the opportunity to do so.
Now, let us look at the general way
this home or house is obtained. AS
soon Us the said laborer or mechanic
has by his industry saved $500, he
purchases the 81 900 house, pays $500
on 1t and gives the owner mortgage
on the whole of the property for the
other $500; pays the interest, insur.
ance and keeps the house In repair,
the two citizens have $500 invested in
this property. Now, who pays the
taxes on the 81 600 protected by the
State? The poor man is assessed fol-
the whole OF the property, when III
only owns one half of it, and that no
secured, while the rich MORTGAGE pays
nothing to tho State and Is doubly SC
cured. Under such burdens unjustl,
TO be borne by the mechanics and la
borers the opportunity to ever own
home of their own Is very slim in
deed.
If sickness or failure to sell thci
labor or any other misfortune prevent
| them paying their taxes and interes
then the mortgage will sell the prop
erty, secure his $500, and the poo
man will have the modification o
knowing the first $500 he earned ant
| saved to procure himself home
mostly taken from him, and he
forced to rent another house the bes
he can.
Look at the agriculturists: They ar
laboring under the same unjust taxa
ton as the laborers and mechanic
where there is mortgage on thei
| property.
First, the land is assessed at its full
money value, although he does nc
actually own one half of it. Then hi
live stock is assessed at its full valu,
A farmers live stock is raised, fed an
kept on the land already taxed, and
The produce OF the farm Just as muc
as any other article that is produce
| lIOn tIlC sui. ut ldIIIleT IL D6ylQ
his taxes and mortgages, making
double tax; then to tax his live stoc
makes three taxes, when the NOR
gagee is exempted from taxation an
has got security on the " hole property
Besides, do you think these were th
principles of those good men tina
framed the constitution to govern OF
country, when our forefathers lai
down their lives TO free themselvt
and us from an unjust taxation? TIL
taxes are as grievous to bear to. day q
they were then, through the uneQu,
way they are levied.
| l hope we shall get redress easie
than they did; but am satisfied If Ii
citizens who pay the taxes to suppol
the government of Delaware and til
extravagant waste of the public none
goes on q few years longer, we mu
become like England and povert,
stricken Ireland, TWO classes of people
the few independently rich and tt
masses miserably poor.
VIM. HOMEWORK.